Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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RECORDING MEDIUM FOR PROTECTING
COPYRIGHTED DATA
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to digital data recording medium, AV apparatus,
and AV (Audio Visual) system which can easily control the recording or
dubbing of a digital signal which is supplied from, for example, a television
station or a digital VCR.
The invention also related to a recording medium and a recording
and reproducing apparatus which inhibits or restricts the recording
(dubbing) and reproduction of a digital signal in order to protect its
copyright.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a digital recording and reproducing apparatus, for example, a
digital VCR, there is hardly any deterioration of picture quality or sound
quality during dubbing (i.e., -copying) process. Therefore, it is necessary to
inhibit or restrict the dubbing or reproduction of certain data to protect a
copyright. When an analog signal is input, converted to a digital signal and
recorded, copyright protective information is superimposed in a vertical
blanking period (V blanking period) of the analog signal to inhibit or
restrict
the dubbing of the digital signal.
In a pre-recorded tape for a conventional analog VCR, in order to
protect the copyright, a copyright protective signal formed of a plurality of
pairs, each comprising a sync pulse and a positive pulse, is superimposed
in the V blanking period of the television signal. An Automatic Gain Control
(AGC) of the recording section of a VCR is "confused" by such a signal, so
that the dubbing cannot be preformed. That is, in case of illegally copying a
pre-recorded tape, the dubbing tape is copied so that it is unreproducible.
Thus, the copyright is protected.
A VCR for an image compression system has been studied and
developed. A digital VCR in which video and audio data are encoded,
recorded and reproduced, such as for Dl component system, D2 composite
system, and the like for business or professional use have been proposed
with copyright protection. For
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instance, in an industrial-use digital VCR, signals such as the V
blanking period and the horizontal blanking period (H blanking period)
which do not represent image information are not recorded. Namely,
only signals in the useful image portion are extracted, compressed,
and recorded. Upon reproduction, such image data is subjected to
processes opposite to those executed upon recording, so that the V
and H blanking periods which were not recorded are added to the
processed image data and the resultant data is output as a composite
video signal.
Fig. 10 is a diagram showing an AV (audio/video) system
for dubbing a pre-recorded tape onto a blank tape using digital VCRs.
In Fig. 10, when a pre-recorded tape 101 is reproduced by a VCR
102, digital data, such as AV data, recorded on tape 101 is supplied
through a cable 103 to a VCR in which a blank tape 105 is loaded.
Tape 101, recorded by a compression system used in professional
digital VCRs, as mentioned above, only contain data of the useful
image portion; therefore, since there is no V blanking period, the
analog VCR copyright protection techniques are not adequate when
recording or dubbing signals using the digital VCR.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a
digital data recording medium, an AV apparatus, and an AV system
which easily permits, inhibits or restricts the recording or dubbing of a
digital signal from a television station_ or a digital VCR.
It is particularly desired to protect the copyright since the
digital video signal representing the copyrighted program does not
deteriorate when it is dubbed. Therefore, copyright protective
information is superimposed onto the transmitted or pre-recorded
digital signal to thereby inhibit or restrict the dubbing or reproduction
of the signal. Thus, the copyright can be properly protected.
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It is, therefore, another object of the invention to provide
a recording medium having copyright protective information to inhibit
or restrict the dubbing and/or the reproduction of a protected signai
stored thereon.
Another object of the invention is to provide a
reproducing apparatus which inhibits or restricts the reproduction of a
protected signal based on copyright protective information on the
recording medium.
A further object of the invention is to provide a recording
and reproducing apparatus which inhibits or restricts the dubbing
and/or the reproduction of a protected signai based on copyright
protective information on the recording medium.
There is provided a medium with copyright protective
information and digital data stored thereon. A reproducing apparatus
reproduces the digitai data and outputs it to a recording apparatus
during a dubbing operation; but the copyright protective information
permits or inhibits recording of that signal. A copy permission signal
in the recording medium acts with the copyright protective
information to permit or prohibit recording of the digital data.
Another aspect of the invention provides A/V apparatus
into which the medium is loaded to perform the reproduction/record
or inhibit operation.
The copyright protective information is indicative of, for
example, recording permission or inhibition; reproducing permission or
inhibition; prepaid fee information for recording time information or its
recording time; prepaid fee information for reproducing time
information or its reproducing time; royalty per unit of recording time;
royalty per unit of reproducing time, etc.
The copyright protective information is stored with the
digital data or on the recording medium container, and in either case
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the A/V apparatus reads out the information and performs the
designated function.
There are provided_ recording apparatus, reproducing
apparatus, and recording and reproducing apparatus for using the
recording medium and the information mentioned above to record,
reproduce, and dub copyrighted information within legal bounds.
Thus, an easier way to control access to the reproduction of
copyrighted materials is provided.
The above and other objects and features of the present
invention will become apparent from the following detailed description
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an AV system used for
dubbing;
Fig. 2 is a table showing the relations among protective
information, copy permission information, and copy
permission/inhibition;
Figs. 3A and 3B are biock diagrams of the reproducing
and recording sections of digital VCRs;
Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a digital VCR used for
recording;
Fig. 5 is a block diagram of the digital VCR used for
dubbing;
Figs. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D are diagrams showing methods
of recording, storing or adding copy permission information or
protective information onto a pre-recorded tape or a blank tape;
Figs. 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D are system diagrams for
recording digital TV data;
Figs. 8A, 8B, 8C, and 8D are system diagrams for
dubbing using a digital VCR;
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Figs. 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D are system diagrams for using
protective information levels of two stages for dubbing using a digital
VCR;
Fig. 10 is a diagram showing an AV system for dubbing
a pre-recorded tape onto a blank tape using digital VCRs;
Fig. 11 is a block diagram showing a recording and
reproducing system to which the invention can be applied;
Fig. 12 is a block diagram showing a recording system to
which the invention can be applied;
Fig. 13 is a block diagram showing a reproducing system
to which the invention can be applied;
Fig. 14 is a diagram showing copyright protective
information superimposed in a vertical blanking period;
Fig. 15 is a diagram showing the structure of copyright
protective information superimposed in a vertical blanking period;
Fig. 16A and 16B are diagrams showing the copyright
protective information superimposed on digital data;
Fig. 17 is a diagram showing the structure of the
copyright protective information superimposed on the digital data; and
Fig. 18 is a diagram showing a copyright protective
information pack.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be
described hereinbelow with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a
block diagram of an AV system used for dubbing AV data and
protective information recorded on a pre-recorded tape loaded in a
reproducing apparatus 1(for example, a digital VCR), the reproduced
data being output to a recording apparatus 2 (for example, a digital
VCR). The protective information is stored in the digital data of the
pre-recorded tape loaded in the reproducing apparatus or, for a
transmission system, in the digital television data (DTV), which will
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be described later, transmitted from a broadcasting station. This
protection information indicates whether dubbing is permitted or
inhibited by the recording apparatus and is transmitted together with
the AV data or DTV data. Rather than always transmitting the
protective information, the protective information can be transmitted
when dubbing is inhibited and not transmitted when dubbing is
permitted.
A blank tape containing previously recorded copy
permission information is loaded in recording apparatus 2. The copy
permission information indicates whether the AV or DTV data can be
recorded onto the biank tape. For example, if the copy permission
information is indicative of permission to copy or not onto a blank
tape, copyrighted data can be properly protected. For instance,
where the protective information is not supplied from reproducing
apparatus 1 or where the protective information indicative of the
permission to copy is supplied from reproducing apparatus 1, dubbing
can be executed regardless of the permissiori information recorded on
the blank tape. Where the protective information indicative of copy
inhibition is supplied from reproducing apparatus 1, that is, when
copyrighted data constitutes the reproduced AV data, the copy
permission information is important. Namely, where the copy
permission information is indicative copy inhibition, the signal cannot
be dubbed onto the blank tape. However, where the copy permission
information is indicative of permission to copy, dubbing can be
executed.
Fig. 2 is a table showing the relations among the
protective information, copy permission information, and copy
permission/inhibition. As mentioned above, where no protective
information is transmitted, the AV or DTV data can be copied
regardless of the copy permission information of the recording
medium loaded in the recording apparatus. In addition, where
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protective information indicative of copy inhibition is transmitted from
the reproducing apparatus and where there is no copy permission
information in the recording medium or the copy permission
information is indicative of copy inhibition, then copying cannot be
performed. Even when the protective information indicative of the
copy inhibition is transmitted from the reproducing medium, where
the copy permission information indicates that copying is permitted
onto the recording medium, the AV or DTV data can be copied.
Where copying is inhibited, the user is notified by using, for example,
an On Screen Display (OSD) on a monitor or the like.
Figs. 3A and 3B are diagrams of the recording and
reproducing sections of digital VCRs. Reproducing apparatus 1,
shown in Fig. 3A, reproduces.the AV data recorded on the pre-
recorded tape from a recording/reproducing unit 3 and outputs the
data to a control unit 5. Protective information, previously recorded
on the pre-recorded tape, is read from the pre-recorded tape by a
protective information reading unit 4 and output to control unit 5.
The AV data and protective information are output from the control
unit.
In the recording apparatus 2, shown in Fig. 313, a control
unit 6 receives the AV data and protective information transmitted
from reproducing apparatus 1. The AV data and protective
information are suppiied from control unit 6 to a recording/
reproducing unit 8.
If the protective information indicates that copying is
permitted or if there is no protective information, regardless of the
copy permission information stored on the blank tape loaded in
recording apparatus 2, the AV data reproduced by reproducing
apparatus 1 can be recorded by recording apparatus 2.
When the protective information is indicative of copy
inhibition, a copy permission information reading unit 7 reads whether
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copy permission information has been recorded on the loaded blank
tape and outputs the result to controi unit 6. Control unit 6 sends a
copy permission signal to recording/reproducing unit 8 based on the
copy permission information. When there is no copy permission
information or when the copy permission information is indicative of
copy inhibition, the reproduced data cannot be copied. However,
when the copy permission information indicates that copying is
permitted, the reproduced data can be copied.
Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a digital VCR used for
recording. The digital VCR comprises an input/output selector 11, a
tuner unit 12, a recording and reproducing apparatus 13 in which a
blank tape (not shown) has been loaded, a controller 14, and a power
supply circuit 15. The tuner unit receives broadcasted DTV data and
protective information indicative of whether copying is permitted.
The controller generates a control signal indicating that data can be
recorded by recording and reproducing apparatus 13. When the
protective information is not transmitted from the tuner unit to the
controller, a control signal indicating that the DTV data can be
recorded regardless of the copy permission information that may be
read from the loaded tape is supplied to the recording and reproducing
apparatus.
When the protective information input to the controller
from the DTV data is indicative of copy inhibition, the controller reads
copy permission information from the blank tape. If the copy
permission information from the blank tape indicates that data can be
recorded, the DTV data can be copied; whereas if the copy
permission information indicates recording inhibition, the DTV data
cannot be recorded.
Fig. 5 is a block diagram of a digital VCR used for
dubbing data from a pre-recorded tape. In Fig. 5, the same
component elements as those shown in Fig 4. are designated by the
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same reference numerals and so are not described below. Digital data
and protective information from another digital VCR (not shown) are
supplied to a signal processing apparatus '16, through an I/O selector
11. The protective information is inputted from the signal processing
apparatus to controlier 14. The controller generates a control signal
indicating whether the AV data can be dubbed based on the
protective information supplied from the signal processing apparatus.
If no protective information or if protective information indicating that
copying is permitted is supplied, then dubbing can be performed
lo regardless of copy permission information stored on the blank tape.
When protective information indicative of copy inhibition
is supplied to the controller 14, the controller reads the copy
permission information from the blank tape loaded in recording and
reproducing apparatus 13. If the copy permission information
indicates that copying is permitted, such information is output from
the recording and reproducing apparatus to the controller. Thus,
dubbing can be executed. If the copy permission information
indicates copy inhibition, then dubbing cannot be executed.
Figs. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D are diagrams showing a method
of recording, storing or adding the foregoing copy permission
information or protective information to a pre-recorded tape or a blank
tape. In Fig. 6A, a memory device such as ROM, RAM, or the like is
built into the tape cassette. The copy permission information or
protective information is stored in the memory device. When the tape
is loaded into recording and/or reproducing apparatus, information
data in the memory device is read by that apparatus. In Fig. 6B, the
presence of copy permission information or protective information is
determined by states of detection holes formed on the cassette. In
Fig. 6C, bar codes provided on the tape cassette are discriminated by
the apparatus to determine whether copy permission information or
protective information is stored on the tape. If Fig. 6D, tracks of
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copy permission information or protective information are provided at
predetermined positions on the tape (for example, in a longitudinal
track in an upper portion of the tape). Copy permission information
or protective information may be recorded throughout the entire
length of tape or only in a partial interval of the tape. The copy
permission information or protective information recorded on the
longitudinal track is read by a read-only fixed head of the apparatus.
As mentioned above, by reading the copy permission or protective
information in the memory device, detecting the states of the
detection holes, discriminating bar codes, or reading the track, the
copy permission information or protective information stored on the
pre-recorded or blank tape is determined. Thus, whether recording or
dubbing can be performed onto the loaded blank tape or from the pre-
recorded tape is judged.
Figs. 7A, 713, 7C and 7D are diagrams showing the
relation between the protective information and copy permission
information when recording DTV data. Fig. 2 is referred to in order to
better appreciate the following description.
As shown in Fig. 7A, when no protective information is
transmitted with the DTV data and no copy permission information is
stored on the blank tape loaded into the recording apparatus,
recording is permitted.
As shown in Fig. 7B, when the protective information
indicative of copy inhibition is transmitted with the DTV data and no
copy permission information is stored on the blank tape loaded into
the recording apparatus, recording is inhibited. If the protective
information indicates that copying is permitted and no copy
permission information is stored on the blank tape, recording is
permitted, as in Fig. 7A.
As shown in Figs. 7A and 7C, when no protective
information is transmitted with the DTV data then the copy
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permission information stored on the blank tape loaded into the
recording apparatus is irrelevant and recording is permitted.
When the protective information is transmitted with the
DTV data and copy permission information is stored on the blank tape
in the recording apparatus, as shown in Fig. 7D, there are four
possibilities.
First, when protective information indicative of copy
inhibition is transmitted and the copy permission information is
indicative of copy inhibition, recording is not possible. Second and
third, when the protective information indicates that copying is
permitted and the copy permission information indicates that copying
is permitted or inhibited, recording is permitted. Fourth, when the
protective information is indicative of copy inhibition and the copy
permission information indicates that copying is permitted, recording
is permitted. In Fig. 7D, when recording is permitted pursuant to the
fourth possibility, the protective information is recorded with the DTV
data, so that similar protection and copy permission can be
maintained for the dubbed data.
Figs. 8A, 88, 8C and 8D are system diagrams showing
the relation between the protective information and copy permission
information when dubbing data from a digital VCR.
In Fig. 8A, when a medium, such as a video tape or the
like, having no protective information is loaded into the reproducing
apparatus, dubbing is permitted regardless of the copy permission
information of the recording medium, such as a blank tape, in the
recording apparatus.
In Fig. 88, when the medium, such as a pre-recorded
tape or the like, which contains protective information indicative of
copy inhibition is ioaded into the reproducing apparatus and a blank
tape without copy permission information is ioaded into the recording
apparatus, dubbing cannot be executed.
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In Fig. 8C, when a medium having no protective
information is loaded into the reproducing apparatus and a blank tape
having copy permission information is loaded into the recording
apparatus, dubbing is permitted.
In Fig. 8D, when a medium having protective information
is loaded into the reproducing apparatus and a blank tape having copy
permission information is loaded into the recording apparatus, there
are four possible cases.
First, in the case where the protective information is
indicative of copy inhibition and the copy permission information is
indicative of copy inhibition, dubbing cannot be executed. Second
and third, when the protective information indicates that copying is
permitted and the copy permission information indicates that copying
is permitted or inhibited, dubbing is permitted. Fourth, when the
protective information is indicative of copy inhibition and the copy
permission information indicates that copying is permitted, dubbing is
permitted. In Fig. 9D, the protective information is dubbed with the
digital data for the fourth possibility, so that similar protection and
copy permission can be maintained for the dubbed data.
Figs. 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D show system diagrams for
dubbing using a digital VCR when two stages or levels of protective
information are used. By allocating states or levels to the protective
information, even when copy permission information is stored on the
blank tape loaded into the recording apparatus, dubbing onto the
blank tape can be inhibited.
As shown in Fig. 9A, when the reproducing medium,
such as a pre-recorded tape or the like, with a first level of protective
information is loaded into the reproducing apparatus and a recording
medium, such as a blank tape or the like, having no copy permission
information is loaded into the recording apparatus, dubbing cannot be
executed.
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As shown in Fig. 9B, where a reproducing medium
having a second level of protective information is ioaded into the
reproducing apparatus and a recording medium having no copy
permission information is loaded into the recording apparatus,
dubbing cannot be executed.
As shown in Fig. 9C, when a reproducing medium having
a first ievel of protective information is loaded into the reproducing
apparatus and a recording medium having copy permission
information indicating that recording is permitted is loaded into the
recording apparatus, dubbing is permitted. In this case, the
protective information is recorded onto the blank tape together with
the digital data. Therefore, similar protection and copy permission
can be maintained for the dubbed data.
As shown in Fig. 9D, if a reproducing medium having a
second level of protective information is loaded into the reproducing
apparatus and a recording medium having copy permission
information is loaded into the recording apparatus, dubbing cannot be
executed. Protective information of two levels is provided so that
illegal dubbing can be restricted. The first level of protective
information is set to the same level of the copy permission
information and the second level of protective information is set to a
level higher than that of the copy permission information.
In the foregoing explanation, the invention uses a tape as
the medium, however, the invention can also be realized with a disk
or the like used as the reproducing and recording media.
Fig. 11 is a block diagram of a recording and reproducing
system, for example, a digital VCR or a disk apparatus, to which the
invention can be applied. A digital VCR 201 comprises a condition
judgment logic circuit 203, a recording circuit 204, a reproducing
circuit 205, and time information forming unit 206. A condition
memory 209 is provided for a tape cassette 202 of the digital VCR.
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The condition memory is prepared for every recording medium
capable of recording a digital video signal. The condition memory is
in a predetermined area $for instance, a subcode area) of, for
example, a magnetic tape 211. Alternatively, the condition memory
may be provided in a semiconductor memory, such as a MIC (Memory
in Cassette), integratedly attached to tape cassette 202. Of course,
the condition memory may be provided in both the subcode area of
magnetic tape 211 and the MIC integratedly attached to the tape
cassette.
In Fig. 11, an analog video signal or a digital video signal
is input from an input terminal 207. If the input signal is an analog
video signal, copyright protection information (bit1 to bit20) shown in
Figs. 14 and 15 will have been superimposed in, for example, the
vertical blanking period. If the input signal is a digital signal, for
example, as shown in Figs. 16 and 17, the copyright protective
information will have been superimposed in the digital data. The
copyright protective information will be explained in detail later. The
input signal is subjected to the usual processing by recording circuit
204 and is recorded onto magnetic tape 211 through a recording and
reproducing head 210.
The following six kinds of information can be stored as
copyright protective information in condition memory 209:
(1) information indicating whether recording is permitted or not or
indicating the inhibition or restriction of recording; (2) prepaid fee
information corresponding to recording duration information whose
dubbing is permitted or to an allotted recording duration; (3)
information indicating whether reproduction is permitted or not or
indicating reproduction inhibition or restriction,. (4) prepaid fee
information corresponding to reproduction duration information whose
reproduction is permitted or to its allotted reproduction duration; (5)
information indicative of a fee category corresponding to a royalty
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which is charged per unit of recording duration of the recording
program; and (6) information indicative of a fee category
corresponding to the royalty which is charged per unit of time of
reproduction duration of the recorded data.
In the recording mode, condition judgment logic circuit
203 controls recording circuit 204 in the following three ways based
on the copyright protection information in condition memory 209. (1)
When there is no protective information indicative of dubbing
inhibition or restriction in the input signal, normal recording of the
input signal by recording circuit 204 can be performed. (2) When the
protective information is indicative of dubbing inhibition or restriction
and there is no information indicating that recording is permitted in
the condition memory, normal recording of the input signal by the
recording circuit cannot be executed. For example, recording may be
inhibited or disrupted by distorting the operation of the recorder AGC,
or the input signal to the recorder may be scrambled, or descrambling
of the reproduced input signal may be inhibited, and the like. (3) If
protective information is indicative of dubbing inhibition or restriction
in the input signal and information in the condition memory indicates
that recording is permitted, normal recording of the input signal by
recording circuit 204 can be performed in accordance with the
recording time information or the prepaid fee information
corresponding to the recording duration. When the input signal is
recorded, the copyright protective information in the input signal is
stored in the condition memory and/or a predetermined area of
magnetic tape 211, the latter being different from the condition
memory.
In place of the copyright protective information in the
input signal, copyright protective information regarding the input
signal can also be input to condition judgment logic circuit 203 from
outside of the digital VCR.
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In the reproducing mode, condition judgment logic circuit
203 controls reproducing circuit 205 in the following two ways based
on the copyright protective information in condition memory 209. {1}
When protective information is not present in the condition memory
to indicate whether reproduction is permitted or not or to indicate
reproduction inhibition or restriction, normal reproduction of the
recording signal by reproducing circuit 205 can be performed. (2)
When protective information is present in the condition memory and
indicates whether reproduction is permitted or not or is indicative of
reproduction or restriction, normal reproduction of the recording signal
by the reproducing circuit can or cannot be performed depending
upon whether the reproduction duration information or the prepaid fee
information. The foregoing inhibition or distorting techniques may be
used to prevent reproduction.
The control operation of condition judgment logic circuit
203 where protective information in the input signal is indicative of
dubbing inhibition or restriction but protective information is present
in the condition memory to indicate that recording is permitted will
now be described.
It is now assumed that the recording duration
information is set to RTO and the prepaid fee information
corresponding to the recording duration is set to RMO in the copyright
protection information. It is also assumed that the royalty, which is
charged per unit of time the copyright protected input signal is
recorded, is set to RCi (i = 1-- n : n>_ 1). The royalty RCi can be
set to a single value. Also, different royalties RCi can be charged for
every pre-recorded program, such that, for example, the royalty is set
to a high value for recently released material, such as a software
program, video-tape or the like, while the royalty is set to a!ow value
for material which has been released for a long time, or the like.
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The input signal with a royalty equal to RCi, which is
recorded for a certain duration RT1, will now be described. The
recording duration RT1 is obtained by time information forming unit
206. A royalty RCP which is charged for the duration RT1 is
obtained by the following equation.
RCP = RCi x RT1
When the recording is completed, the recording duration
information or the prepaid fee information corresponding to the
recording duration in the copyright protective information in condition
memory 209 is rewritten. The rewriting of RTO or RMO can be
performed once at the end of the dubbing or can be performed at a
predetermined time interval. The recording duration information RTO
is rewritten by the following equation.
RTO - RT1 =* RTO
When RTO is determined for a certain RCi (i ;t 1) and the input signal
has a different RC1, the recording duration information RTO is
converted and rewritten as follows.
RTO - (RT1 x RC1/Rci) =* RTO
The prepaid fee information RMO corresponding to the
recording duration is rewritten as follows.
RMO - RCP =* RMO
When RTO or RMO is equal to 0, dubbing is inhibited or restricted.
Thus, normal recording of the input signal canriot be performed.
Condition judgment logic circuit 203 discriminates
whether RTO or RMO is equal to 0, therefore, RTO or RMO can be
used as information indicating whether recording is permitted or not
or indicating recording inhibition or restriction.
The recording duration information RTO, the prepaid fee
information RMO corresponding to the recording duration, and the
royalty RCi (i = 1--- n : n>_ 1) charged for the recording duration of
the copyright protected input signal can be replaced by information
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RTO indicative of the number of times the data is permitted to be
recorded, the prepaid fee information RMO corresponding to the
number of times the data is permitted to be recorded, and the royalty
RCi (i = 1--- n : n _ 1) charged for the number of times the
copyrighted protected input signal is permitted to be recorded,
respectively.
Upon dubbing, the royalty RCi charged for the recording
duration the input signal or the royalty input from outside of the
digital VCR can be stored to the condition memory as information
indicative of a fee category corresponding to the royalty of the pre-
recorded program.
Further, the royalty RCi charged per unit of time the
input signal is reproduced or the royalty input from outside of the
digital VCR can be stored to the condition memory as information
indicative of a fee category corresponding to the royalty of the pre-
recorded program.
The operation of condition judgment logic circuit 203
where protective information is present in the condition memory to
determine whether reproduction is permitted or not or whether
reproduction is inhibited or restricted will now be explained.
It is assumed that the reproduction duration information
is set to PT and the prepaid fee information corresponding to the
reproduction duration is set to PMO. It is also assumed that the
royalty which is charged for the duration of the reproduction of the
copyright protected input signal is set to PCi (i = 1- n : n>_ 1).
The royalty PCi can be set to a single value. A plurality of royalties
PCi also can be set to allow different royalties to be charged for every
pre-recorded or broadcast program so that, for example, the royalty is
set to a high value for a recently released program and the royalty is
set to a low value for program which has been released for a long
time, or the like.
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In this instance, the input signal whose royalty is PCi is
reproduced for a duration PT1. The reproducing duration PT1 is
obtained by duration information derived from time information
forming unit 206. A royalty PCP which is charged for the duration
PT1 is obtained as follows.
PCP = PCi x PT1
When the reproduction is completed, the reproduction
duration information or the prepaid fee information corresponding to
the reproduction duration of the copyright protective information is
rewritten. The rewriting of PTO or PMO can be performed once at the
end of the dubbing or can be performed at predetermined time
intervals. The reproducing duration information PTO is rewritten as
follows.
PTO - PT 1 =* PTO
When PTO is determined for a certain PCi (i ;-4- 1), and the input signal
has a different PC1, the reproducing duration information PTO is
rewritten as follows.
PTO - (PT1 x PC1 /PCi) =:* PTO
The prepaid fee information PMO corresponding to the
reproduction duration is obtained by the following expression.
PMO - PCP =* PMO
When PT0 or PMO is equal to 0, reproduction is inhibited or
restricted. Thus, normal reproduction of the recording signal cannot
be executed.
Condition judgment logic circuit 203 discriminates
whether PTO or PMO is equai to 0 or not, therefore, PTO or PMO can
be used as information which indicates whether reproduction is
permitted or not or which indicates reproduction inhibition or
restriction.
The reproduction duration information PTO, the prepaid
fee information PMO corresponding to the reproducing duration, and
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the royalty PCi (i = 1 - n: n> 1) charged per unit of time the
copyright protected input signal is reproduced can be replaced by the
information PTO indicative of the number of times the signal is
permitted to be reproduced, the prepaid fee information PMO
corresponding to the number of times the signal is permitted to be
reproduced, and the royalty PCi (i = 1-- n: n> 1) charged for the
number of times the copyright protected input signal is permitted to
be reproduced, respectively.
Fig. 12 shows an example of a recording system, for
example, a recording system of a digital VCR, to which the invention
can be applied. A digital VCR 201 is comprised of condition
judgment logic circuit 203, recording circuit 204, and time
information forming unit 206. Tape cassette 202 of the digital VCR
has condition memory 209. Those portions having the same
reference numerals as in Fig. 11 have similar construction and
function, therefore, their descriptions are omitted.
Fig. 13 shows an example of a reproducing system, for
example, a reproducing system of a digital VCR, to which the
invention is applied. Digital VCR 201 is comprised of condition
judgment logic circuit 203, reproducing circuit 205, and time
information forming unit 206. Tape cassette 202 of the digital VCR
has condition memory 209. These components correspond to those
designated by the same reference numerals in Fig. 11 having the
same construction and functions, and therefore, their descriptions are
omitted.
Figs. 14 and 15 are diagrams which show copyright
protective information superimposed in the V blanking period of an
analog video signal. The copyright protective information is a signal
of 20 bits which is superimposed in the V blanking period. A
reference bit is provided before the signal of 20 bits.
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As shown in Fig. 15, the signal of 20 bits is constructed
by wordO of six bits, wordl of four bits, word2 of four bits, and CRC
of six bits. Basic parameter and identification ID information
regarding a transmission formation are inserteci at wordO. Bits
indicating the presence or absence of copyright protection and
indicating whether the software is original or not are included at
wordl. For example, the third bit of wordl indicates the presence or
absence of copyright protection. When the third bit is equal to "0",
copyright protection is present. When the third bit is equal to "1
there is no copyright protection. The fourth bit of the wordl
indicates whether the software is original or not. When the fourth bit
is equal to "0", there is no designation. When the fourth bit is equal
to "1 ", the software is a recorded software which was commercially
released. A category code of the apparatus is inserted in the word2.
i5 Figs. 16A, 16B and 17 are diagrams which show
copyright protective information superimposed on a digital video
signal. As shown in Figs. 16A and 16B, a dubbing number restriction
code 212 consisting of one byte is inserted in the head portion of
main data 213 and 214 in an image data block VB and an audio data
block AB, respectively. In the dubbing numbeir restriction code, for
example, as shown in Fig. 17, the head bit is a check bit indicating
whether the software is copyright protected or not, the next two bits
contain data indicative of the present number of dubbing times and
the remaining five bits contain classification data indicating whether a
source of the image data is a tape, a disk, or a broadcast program.
For example, if the image and auciio data are copyright
protected and the source is a magnetic tape which has already been
dubbed once, dubbing number restriction code 212 is " 101 XXXXX"
(the XXXXX indicates that the category code is set to a "don't care"
state).
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Fig. 18 is a diagram which show copyright protective
information stored in condition memory 209. The copyright
protective information is described by, for example, a pack structure.
The "pack" indicates a minimum unit of a datzo group and each pack
is constructed of five bytes. The first byte is a header and the
remaining four bytes contain data. The eight bits of the header are
divided to four upper bits and four lower bits, to form a hierarchy
structure. Although a fixed length of five bytes is set as the basic
length of the pack structure, a structure having a variable length can
also be used.
The four upper bits (D00) of PC1 contain information
indicative of a fee category corresponding to the royalty charged per
unit of time for recording a pre-recorded program. Sixteen dubbing
fee categories can be expressed in those four bits.
The four lower bits (D01) of PC1 contain information
indicative of a fee category corresponding to the royalty charged per
unit of time a pre-recorded program is reproduced. Sixteen
reproduction fee categories can be expressed in these four bits.
Byte PC2 indicates recording duration information or
prepaid fee information corresponding to the recording duration. The
recording duration information or the prepaid -fee information
corresponding to the recording duration can be expressed by the bits
(D02) of PC2 within a range 0 to 255 times as large as a unit of time
for recording or a unit prepaid fee.
Byte PC3 indicates reproduction duration information or
prepaid fee information corresponding to its reproduction duration.
The reproduction duration information or the prepaid fee information
corresponding to its reproduction duration can be expressed by the
bits (D03) of PC3 within a range 0 to 255 times as large as a unit of
3 0 time for reproduction or a unit prepaid fee.
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The four upper bits (D04) of PC4 contain information
indicating whether the recording is permitted oir not or indicating
recording inhibition or restriction. Thus, the presence or absence of
the copyright protection and, for example, the number of times the
signal is dubbed can be expressed.
The four lower bits (D05) of PC4 contain information
indicating whether the reproduction is permitted or not or indicating
reproduction inhibition or restriction. Thus, the presence or absence
of the copyright protection and, for example, the number of times the
signal is reproduced can be expressed.
Although an example of the digital VCR has been
described so far as a recording and reproducing system, the invention
can also be similarly embodied in a disk apparatus or a recording and
reproducing system using another recording medium.
According to the invention, permitting, restricting or
inhibiting the recording or dubbing of digital data can easily be
controlled by using protective information and copy permission
information. The copyright can be further protected by using multiple
stages or levels of protective information. Thus, although a broadcast
video image can be seen on a television or a monitor, the recording of
the video image can be controlled. By recordirig the protective
information of the original data with the data when copies are made,
similar protection/copy permission can be maintained even when the
dubbed/recorded contents are recorded or dubbed again.
According to the invention, permission, inhibition, or
restriction of the dubbing of the information signal can be effectively
performed at the time of recording by using the recording permission
information used to determine recording permission, a recordable
duration of the information signal, or the number of times the
information signal is permitted to be recorded and copyright
protective information indicative of the fee for recording a
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predetermined unit of time of the information signal or the number of
times the information signal is permitted to be recorded stored in the
recording medium.
Even if the fee for recording a predetermined unit of time
of the information signal or the number of times the information
signal is recorded is set so as to be different for every information
signal, a royalty for the dubbing of each inforrriation signal can be
correctly charged.
According to the invention, the reproduction of the
information signal can be permitted, inhibited or restricted effectively
at the time of the recording using the reproduction permission
information to determine reproduction permission for a reproducible
duration of the information signal or the number of times the
information signal is permitted to be reproduced and copyright
protection information indicative of the fee for reproducing the
information signal for a predetermined unit of time or the number of
times the information signal is reproduced stored in the recording
medium.
Even when the fee regarding the reproduction for a
2 o predetermined unit of time of the information signal or the number of
times the information signal is reproduced is set so as to be different
for every information signal, a royalty for the reproduction of each
information signal can be correctly charged.
The present invention is not limited to the foregoing
embodiments but many modifications and variations are possible
within the spirit and scope of the appended claims of the invention.
